• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peeking Between the Pages

Peeking Between the Pages

...escape into the pages of a good book

  • HOME
  • ARCHIVES
  • PAST READS
  • REVIEW POLICY
  • ABOUT ME
  • CONTACT ME

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King (Audiobook)

October 3, 2013 by Darlene

doc sleep

Wow! That is how I will start this review because that is the only word coming to mind as I just finished listening to the audio version of Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. It is narrated by Will Patton and I can’t even begin to gush over the great job I think he did. He was the perfect choice to narrate this book as he’s very talented with injecting the right amount of emotion and excitement into his voice at the right time. As for the book I will say that I didn’t think anything would live up to The Shining for me but I was wrong! I was glued to this audio from the beginning to the end and at 18 plus hours that says a lot. It was utterly fantastic!

Doctor Sleep has us returning to one of the most popular characters that Stephen King created and that was Dan Torrance of The Shining.  Dan is all grown up now but he is still haunted by the time he spent up at the Overlook Hotel when he was just a boy. It had affected most areas of his life with him turning to alcohol for solace from the depression and violent tendencies he feels.

After arriving in New Hampshire and meeting Billy and getting himself an AA sponsor Dan’s life begins to improve. When he begins working at a nursing home and using his ‘shining’ to help those pass peacefully in death he feels he’s finally found his calling and eventually they begin to call him Doctor Sleep. When he starts receiving messages on his blackboard from twelve year old Abra and learns she needs help he doesn’t hesitate. A crazy bunch of people who call themselves the True Knot go after those who have the shining and use the steam from it in order to keep on living and what they do to them I won’t even say. When they come after Abra though it becomes personal for Dan.  However he can never imagine how it will bring alive all his own demons that he’s been running from for years.

Doctor Sleep is awesome! It is Stephen King at his best and listening to it on audio made it all the better for me. It had my heart pounding and my mouth hanging open at some of the twists and turns and I loved every minute!

 

 

Buy at:  Simon & Schuster, Audible, and iTunes

 

Source:  Review copy provided by the publisher.  No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Share this post!
Share

Filed Under: 2013 - 100+ Books, 2013 ARC's, 2013 Book Reviews, Audiobooks

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary says

    October 3, 2013 at 3:49 am

    Great review, Dar. I’m too much of a wimp for most of King’s books but my husband loves them. I’ll tell him about your review!

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 4:09 pm

      Mary, let me know what he thinks of it if he reads it. It was excellent!

  2. Diane@BibliophilebytheSea says

    October 3, 2013 at 4:58 am

    I LOVED the audio version as well.

    SPOILER…..Azee the Cat, I’m guessing was based on a true story of Oscar the Cat who was able to predict death at a RI nursing home. Here is the link if interested:

    http://www.steerehouse.org/shoscar_landing

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 4:08 pm

      Diane, the audio was so awesome wasn’t it! I can see myself listening to it again in the future. I agree on Azee the cat. I’ve heard of many animals that have this ability though. It’s interesting isn’t it.

  3. Sandy says

    October 3, 2013 at 5:06 am

    I thought this was an excellent book. I was too excited to wait for the audio so I read it on Kindle last week. My only issue was the slight goofy-ness of The True Knot. They were horrid, granted, but I had a hard time taking them seriously. But I loved the relationship between Abra and Danny, and I thought Danny’s struggle with alcoholism was well drawn.

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 4:07 pm

      Sandy, it was excellent on audio. I agree on the True Knot but then King always does have things in his books that don’t completely make sense. I loved the whole relationship with Abra and Danny too as well as where Dan ended up finally in his life. It’s a good end to his story although I could see another book with Abra and Dan maybe… Hopefully. The parts on alcoholism and AA were really well done. My dad has been in AA for 44 years so it was all very familiar to me.

  4. JoAnn @ Lakeside Musing says

    October 3, 2013 at 5:58 am

    You are much braver than I am… so glad you enjoyed this book!

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      Lol JoAnn. I love horror.

  5. Harvee @ Book Dilettante says

    October 3, 2013 at 6:08 am

    Too bad I can’t get into horror, a la Stephen King. Glad you enjoyed it.

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 4:03 pm

      Harvee, it is too bad you don’t like horror. I love it in books or movies and the more the better.

      • Harvee @ Book Dilettante says

        October 3, 2013 at 7:34 pm

        Aargh! My vivid imagination won’t let me read or watch horror! I know I’m missing out…

        • admin says

          October 3, 2013 at 8:19 pm

          LOL Harvee.

  6. bermudaonion (Kathy) says

    October 3, 2013 at 7:27 am

    I have a feeling that’s too scary for me, especially on audio!

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 4:02 pm

      Yeah Kathy, it’s probably not for you since you’re not a fan of horror. Audios sure do add to the spooky factor.

  7. Connie Fischer says

    October 3, 2013 at 10:31 am

    Oh my, Dar! When I saw your topic today, I said “Oh, I can’t wait to see what she thinks of this one!” Stephen King is the King of Spooky! I loved your first word – Wow! How appropriate for this book.

    I’m looking forward to reading it during the daylight hours. I’m too chicken to read it at night, surrounded by darkness. Wooo!!

    Thanks for sharing today, Dar. Love it!

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 4:01 pm

      Lol Connie. I always laugh when people say they have to read scary things in the daylight. I love anything horror at any time of the day. I hope we can chat a bit about the book once you’ve read it.

  8. blodeuedd says

    October 3, 2013 at 12:56 pm

    Never read a King book

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      You’ve never read a King book Linda? I find that surprising for some reason. You really should if you like creepy and scary at all.

  9. Margaret @ Just One More Chapter says

    October 3, 2013 at 2:27 pm

    I’m curious, do you have the reading The Shining first?

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 3:58 pm

      Margaret I think Doctor Sleep can stand on its own but with that being said I think you benefit from reading (or even watching) The Shining for the backstory of Dan Torrance. They are both awesome!

  10. Suko says

    October 3, 2013 at 5:24 pm

    Darlene, I’m glad you enjoyed this audiobook so much. I think it would be great to listen to. This one’s definitely on my TBR list! Terrific review today.

    • admin says

      October 3, 2013 at 8:20 pm

      Susan, I hope you read or listen to it soon. It was so good. If you’ve read The Shining then you definitely want to read this one.

  11. Samantha says

    October 6, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    Everybody has been talking about Doctor Sleep and it is making me want to finally take the time to read The Shining. I’m such a wimp though and the thought of that book makes me nervous. LOL! I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed this one so much!

    • admin says

      October 7, 2013 at 4:01 pm

      Sam, you’re funny. I’m listening to the audiobook now of The Shining but I love anything scary. I thought you liked creepy too.

  12. Melissa says

    October 8, 2013 at 8:52 am

    I am reading this right now on my nook… I’m enjoying it so far. I think the audio version would really set the mood though. Glad you liked it.

  13. Anna says

    October 9, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book. Glad you enjoyed it!

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me!

 

Enter your email address to get my latest reviews sent to your inbox!

Recently Shared

  • Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor (Audiobook)
  • The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones (Audiobook)
  • Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson (Audiobook)
  • Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez (Audiobook)
  • Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz (Audiobook)

Archives

Categories

Currently Reading

Orhan's Inheritance
Dear Carolina
The Mapmaker's Children
   

My Reading Pal Sammy

Remembering Buddy

Buddy
• May 25, 2002 - Oct 22, 2010 •
Forever in my heart